Does a homestay need a channel manager, or is iCal sync enough?

What is the difference between a channel manager and iCal sync?

Both exist so that one night is never booked twice. They work differently:

• iCal sync shares a calendar link (.ics). It carries booked or blocked dates only, not prices or guest names, and each platform pulls it on its own schedule ^[1].
• A channel manager connects directly to each platform. It can send prices, availability and bookings as soon as they change, so prices on every platform can be changed from one place.
• A channel manager usually costs extra. Beds24, for example, publishes EUR 0.55 a month per channel connection on top of its base fee ^[2].

How long does iCal take to close a booked date?

It depends on the platform doing the pulling. Airbnb updates connected calendars automatically every 3 hours, and you can press Refresh to pull them sooner ^[1].

So a direct booking that comes in at two in the afternoon may not be closed on Airbnb until the next pull. In that window, an Airbnb guest can still book the same night.

The other direction depends on your system. UrusPro pulls Airbnb, Booking.com and Agoda links every 15 minutes, so bookings from those platforms close on your booking page quickly.

When is iCal sync enough for a homestay?

iCal sync is usually enough when this sounds like you:

• You have one to a few units, listed on two or three platforms.
• Most bookings are made days or weeks ahead, not on the same day.
• You set prices on each platform yourself, and do not change them daily.
• You can check the calendar before accepting an instant booking on a busy weekend.

When do you need a channel manager with a direct connection?

Consider a channel manager when:

• You run many units on many platforms, and overlapping bookings have happened more than once.
• Many bookings arrive at the last minute, so the gap between iCal pulls is too long.
• You want to change prices on every platform at once from one place.
• You run a hotel or guesthouse with many identical rooms sold as one room type.

How much does a channel manager cost for a homestay?

Prices vary by provider, and are usually counted by unit, channel or package. Prices change, so check each provider's page before deciding. Examples published by the providers themselves:

• Beds24 publishes fees from EUR 15.50 a month, with Channel Manager as an add-on at EUR 0.55 a month per channel connection ^[2].
• WoW Stay's site states that iCal Sync is included in its packages, while a Real-time 2-way Channel Manager is offered as a separate add-on ^[3].
• UrusPro syncs through iCal with no channel fee, and every listing is free until 31 December 2026 ^[4].

What does UrusPro do, and what does it not do?

UrusPro is an iCal-based system, not a channel manager with direct connections. It pulls every iCal link every 15 minutes, gives each unit one export link to paste into Airbnb or Booking.com, and shows when each link last synced successfully.

Prices are not sent to Airbnb or Booking.com, because iCal does not carry prices. You set prices on each platform yourself, and the direct booking page prices in UrusPro.

Frequently asked questions